Leeds United fell to a 4-1 defeat at promotion favourites Wolves as their hopes of building on the encouraging weekend win over Middlesbrough were dashed.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side raced into a two-goal lead before the break thanks to Barry Douglas' free-kick and Ivan Cavaleiro's strike but Leeds rallied in the early stages of the second half and responded when Samu Saiz set up Ezgjan Alioski to score a stunning volley.

But Ronaldo Vieira's red card changed the game and Wolves threatened to run riot late on, with first Diogo Jota and then substitute Helder Costa adding gloss to the scoreline and compounding Leeds' misery.

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Here’s a look at the some of the things you might have missed during the game.

Samu Saiz reacts furiously to Ronaldo Vieira red card

The Spaniard had just pulled off one of the best assists you will see in Championship football this season to haul his side back into contention and, within minutes, Leeds had shot themselves in the foot.

Ronaldo Vieira's lazy and clumsy challenge on Diogo Jota made Geoff Eltringham's decision quite an easy one and Saiz made his feelings clear on the situation.

Samu Saiz vents his fury after Ronaldo Vieira's red card

Saiz ran between the referee, who had already made up his mind, and Vieira, throwing his arms up in the air in disgust, though it wasn't clear whether his angst was directed at the referee or his teammate's naivety.

But after such a key intervention to get Leeds back into the contest, Saiz was right to vent his fury at a key moment which ultimately cost Leeds the game.

The touchline reaction to the sending off

The Leeds United manager admitted afterwards that both Vieira and himself needed to "learn" from the mistake of the red card.

Christiansen felt he could have made a change sooner but he showed a parental instinct when his young midfielder made the challenge by darting to the fourth official on the touchline and pleading his innocence.

Eltringham's mind was made up and the protests would prove futile as the manager realised the enormity of the task facing his side against a team as gifted as Wolves'.

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Santo, meanwhile, was demanding the second yellow be shown to the Leeds man with gesticulations towards the man in the middle.

He duly obliged.

Vieira's apology to the fans and his teammates

This was a significant learning curve for the young midfielder, who will not come against many better midfielders than those Wolves possess.

And he showed his professionalism and class by immediately issuing an apology to the travelling supporters and his fellow peers by explaining how he felt he had let the team down.

"Just want to apologise to the fans and my team mates for my red card tonight," he wrote on Twitter.

Ronaldo Vieira apologised for his red card at Wolves (Image: PA)

"I made the wrong decision at a crucial time in the game.

"We will come back stronger as a team and I will make up for my mistake when I get back on the pitch #Together."

Luke Ayling's dejection after the third goal

Having fought hard to work a way back into the game, Jota's classy finish for Wolves' third goal felt like a puncture to Leeds' confidence and it deflated markedly.

Ayling looked more hurt than most by the Portuguese's chip over Andy Lonergan, with the right-back having lost his man and he showed his frustration at what proved to be the clinching goal for the home side.

The right-back sat crestfallen on the far side in front of the travelling fans and showed the kind of passion which had been sadly lacking from others.

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Wolves vs Leeds United

He seemed to take an eternity to get up as Wolves toasted their third goal of the game but when he did eventually rise to his feet he was quickly coming to terms with a fourth as Leo Bonatini got free on his side of the field and won a penalty off Lonergan.

It was a tough night for everyone concerned, but Ayling personified it more than most.

The Leeds fans give it their all

As always, there was a strong away following and they never stopped trying to cheer their side on.

2,382 of 28,914 fans were sat in the away end and Molineux is unlikely to see a more loyal away following this season.

They never gave up - and the players showed their appreciation at the end, even if was scant consolation for such a chastening defeat.